Chain.



No. 635,789. Patented Oct. 31, I899.

J. MACPHAIL. I

CHAIN.

(Application filed Sept. 26, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNTTED STATES PATENT nrrcn.

JAMES MACPHAIL, OF BLUE ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PLANOMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,789, dated October31, 1899.

Application filed September 26, 1898. Serial No. 691,864. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MAoPHAiL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Blue Island, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chains, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved construction for links for sprocketand similar chains; and it consists in making the body of the link ofsuch a shape as will prevent the constant whipping of the chain upon thechain-tightener and also the wearing off of the nose of the hook of thelinks.

Referring to the drawings, in which the same letters of reference areused to designate identical parts in all the views, Figure 1 is anelevation of a portion of the chaintightener and two or three links of achain cooperatin g therewith as ordinarily constructed. Fig. 2 is asimilar View showing the links of the chain constructed in accordancewith my improvements. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the outer side of one ofthe links; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of two of the links asconstructed in accordance with my improvement, showing how they aredetached.

In almost all machinery in which sprocketchains or similardriving-chains are employed some form of a chain-tightener is necessaryto tighten the chain, and it must necessarily be applied to the outsideof the chain. As will be seen from the ordinary construction of thechain, (shown in full lines in Fig. 1,) the nose A of the hook B comesdirectly in contact with the friction-roller C, and this causesconsiderable wear upon this nose in case the ordinary friction-rollertightening device is used and still greater wear in case a rigid' or nonrotating frictional device is employed. 'This soon results in wearingoff the nose, as seen in the foremost link in Fig. 1 at D. By referringto Fig. 4, which illustrates the method of assembling the links of myimproved chain, as Wellas of any ordinary chain, it will be seen thatwhen the nose becomes worn down, as illustrated at D, Fig. 1, the chaincan become detached very easily, as the nose is worn off until the hookforms only substantially a semicircle instead of considerable over asemicircle, as when the hooks are new. This wear consequently results inrapidly wearing out the chain. Another obj ection to this form ofconstruction arises from the fact that at the time the nose of the hookis in contact with the friction-wheel of the chain-tightener the body.of the link is at some distance therefrom, but as soon as it is advanceda little bit the body of the chain is swung down into contact with thefrictionwheel, thus producing a continual whipping motion of the chain,which tends to wear out the bearings of the link, and any wear of thesebearings increases the trouble pointed out in connection with thewearing 0E of the nose, as well as being very disagreeable on account ofthe noise produced. My invention is designed to remedy both of theseevils and consists of forming on the outer portions of the sides E ofthe link the swelled portions F. As seen in Fig. 2, these swelledportions only come in contact with the friction-wheel, and the nose justclears the friction-Wheel, thus avoiding the wear incident to the use ofan ordinary chain. derstood that I might make the swell of the portion Fjust sufficient to have the nose A come in contact with thefriction-wheel, in which case the wear would be practicallyunnoticeable, and in order to produce any serious wear the swelledportions F would also have to be worn ofi. By further reference to Fig.2 it Will be seen that this construction also avoids the whipping of thechain and the consequent wear and annoyance resulting from that.

While I have shown my invention as embodied in the form which I atpresent consider best adapted for the purposes in hand, it will beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the exact shape shown anddescribed, but only to such a construction as may be necessitated by theterms of the following claims.

I claim 1. In a detachable-link chain, a link having one end formed witha bearing-hook, and the opposite end with a cylindrical bearingcooperating with the hook of the adjacent link, and its outer sideformed with swelled curved portions projecting into the plane of Ofcourse it will be un the nose of the hook to protect it from contactwith a chain-tightener or similar article; I portions or flanges F F ontheir outer sides, substantially as and for the purpose deprojectinginto the plane of the nose of the 10 scribed. bearing-hook to protect itfrom contact With 2. In a detachable-link chain, a link havthechain-tightener, or similar article.

ing one end formed with a bearing-hook, and JAMES MACPHAIL.

the opposite end With a cylindrical bearing Witnesses:

cooperating, with the hook of the adjacent ALLAN A. MURRAY,

link, and its side E formed with the raised LOUISE E. SERAGE.

